Why do goldfish turn white?

A:

Quick Answer

Gold fish do not technically turn white, but lose color pigmentation when not exposed to enough natural sunlight. The cells responsible for maintaining the bright coloring of goldfish respond to light levels. Fish kept indoors in dark environments fade in color over time because their pigment cells are no longer chemically reacting to bright light.

Keep Learning

Goldfish are known for their many shades of bright orange coloring. Some goldfish are speckled with other colors. In their natural habitat, they are constantly exposed to healthy doses of natural light. Sunlight interacts with the body chemistry of the goldfish to bring out their bright coloring.

Placing indoor goldfish in a fish tank, with artificial lighting that mimics the rays of the sun, helps them keep their golden color.

Related Questions

Although there is little proof, rare cases have indicated the possibility of cannibalism in goldfish. The National reported an incident in which goldfish ate other fish after an earthquake, leaving them of food for an extended period of time.

Goldfish swim upside down when they have swim bladder disease. Goldfish and other species of fish may also swim sideways or do not have the ability to swim to the bottom of the tank if they have this disease.

According to FishChannel.com, determining the gender of a goldfish can be difficult, as the fish are weakly dimorphic. However, depending on when the fish are checked, it can be possible to determine their gender based on physical differences.

When kept in captivity, goldfish live anywhere from a few months to 45 years depending on the size of their habitat and how well they are cared for. Goldfish kept in bowls have the shortest lifespan; with proper cleaning and feeding, they can survive for about five years.